100 Short Stories

51

MARCH 12, 2021

Under the flying lanterns

"Thank you so much Sean, you made my birthday really special." niyakap niya ako at nag sayaw lang kami sa ilalim ng mga lumilipad na lantern, gaya ng plinano namin.

"I love you." we both said in chorus.

1 year ago...

Colene POV

"Mag lilinis lang po." tumango lang ako, didn't even bother to see if it really is a janitor or a kidnapper, whats the point of taking good care of yourself if you know, one day, you'll leave this earth, bakit hindi pa pabilisan diba?

I was 6 when a doctor discovered something about me, or my body, may sakit daw ako, I don't even know what it is, basta ang alam ko lang 12 years na akong na kakulong sa hospital na toh.

My favorite disney princess is Rapunzel, how funny, I became the modern Rapunzel, stuck in a hospital, can't even go outside kasi na tatakot sila na baka mamatay na lang ako bigla. But like our disney princess Rapunzel, all I wanted to do is to light up a lantern and be with the one.

I don't really know if it's an accident or meron talagang tradition na pag lilight ng lantern every birthday ko, like Rapunzel, but I find it really amazing, of all people, of all days, month, and years yung birthday ko pa talaga, I really am, the modern Rapunzel.

"Lalim niyan ma'am ah." na tigil yung pag daday dream ko ng biglang mag salita yung janitor.

"Look at that, do you know where did those lanterns came from?" hidni ko tinanggal yung tingin ko sa bintana, na rinig ko naman ang pag baba ng mop niya, at pag lapit sa bintana.

"Ah, dyan sa may fiestahan yan ma'am tradisyon nila yan tuwing ganitong araw."
"Aside from their festival is there any ocations for them to light a lantern?"

"Ah, wala naman na po, pero sa pag kakaalam ko po, chinese new year ngayon, hindi ko lang po alam kung related po yun sa pag papalipad nila ng mga lantern."

I just nooded, as if alam ko kung ano yung pinag sasabi niya, birthday lang ata ang alam kong ocation eh.

"Hindi naman po sa chismoso ako ma'am ah, pero wala po ba kayong nanay at tatay? Lagi ko po kasing na papansin mag isa ka, nag hihinala na nga po ako eh, baka baliw ka kasi lagi ka lang naka tingin sa bintana, kaso heart center naman ito hindi mental." I look at him with a unbelievable look.

"Do I look like I'm crazy?" nandito ba siya para mangasar.
"Ay hindi ma'am ah ang ganda niyo nga po eh."

I just roll my eyes, what's the point of arguing.

"My parents are both doctors, they only visit if they need to examine something on me, I didn't bother to ask them to hire someone, I can take care of myself, I've been here for 12 years ngayon ko lang na kita yung pag mumukha mo dito." na tatawang na pakamot siya ng ulo at feel at home na umupo sa sofa.

"A-ah paupo ako ma'am ah."
"Why even ask if you already do it?"

Tumawa pa siya, this guy is weird but, I'm really bored, I want someone to be with.

"Ah, minsan lang po ako dito, ngayon nga lang po ako na asign dito sa floor niyo eh, part time ko lang po kasi yung pag jajanitor, nag aaral po ako, ikaw ma'am bakit po 12 years ka na dito?"

"I dunno, obviously I'm dying-"
"Halla! Hindi naman po ah, malakas pa po kayo."

"Will you stop calling me po, it makes me feel old, you even look more older than me."

Ngumuso naman siya at hinawak hawakan yung mukha niya, psh baliw ata toh eh.

"Yeah, I'm such a looner."
"Wag kayong mag alala ma'am simula ngayon bestfriends na tayo, dito na ako lagi mag papaasign. Una na ko ah, marami pa kong lilinising kwarto, see you next week bestfriend!"

Bestfriend? I never had one before, na pangiti na lang ako, seems like, I found someone to be with. Still scared though, ganun siguro talaga ka pag mamamatay na, takot sa attachment.

Starting that day, we became close, we treated each other like bestfriends, every saturday at sunday nandito siya sa hospital para mag linis, inuuna niya muna lahat ng mga kwarto at ihuhuli na yung akin, na kakatuwa siya, he's funny, ang dami niyanh sides na hindi ko na kita nung first talk namin, he's cute.

End

Sean's POV

"Oh tito, gising na po si Colene? Papaalam ko po sana siya eh, pupunta ko po dun sa may lantern parade, pede po ba?" mukahng stress si tito ah, sabagay, ang daming pasyente araw araw.

"Iho, I want you to do everything, just to make her happy today." na pansin ko ang luhang bumagsak sa mata ni tito, hala.

"It's time iho." na paayos ako ng tayo.
"T-Tito." umiling siya, na paiyak naman ako, bat ganun, ilang buwan ko ng alam pero hanggang ngayon na sasaktan parin ako, siguro dahil, mahal na mahal ko siya.

"Wah!!" sobrang saya niya, kanina pa siya manghang mangha, I will do everything just to make her happy today.

"Anong isusulat ko sean?"
"Ikaw, ano bang wish mo?"

May hawak hawak siya marker at nag iisip kung anong ilalagay sa lantern niya.

'Please, one more year.'

Yun ang sa akin, kahit isang taon pa god, hindi ko pa kayang ma wala siya.

"All done." na biyak ang puso ko ng mabasa ang naka sulat sa lantern niya, 'Take care of Sean, and help him see the girl of his dreams.' I already found her Colene, It's you.

"1! 2! 3! Go!!!" pinalipad na namin yung mga lantern namin, naka tingin lang ako kay Colene, na naka ngiting naka titig sa mga lantern. Lumingon siya sakin at lumapit.

"Thank you so much Sean, you made my birthday really special." niyakap niya ako at nag sayaw lang kami sa ilalim ng mga lumilipad na lantern, gaya ng plinano namin.

"I love you." we both said in chorus. That moment, I know myself I was too late, ng maramdaman kong buhat buhat ko na halos lahat ng bigat niya na iiyak ko siyang inihiga sa mga braso ko.

"I love you Colene, and you will always be my dreams, till we meet again, my beautiful lantern fly high."

/////WORK OF FICTION/////
/////PHOTO NOT MINE/////